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Wolf Tracker Trainings


Next Training:
Saturday, June 9, 2012 along the Teanaway River near Cle Elum, WA
with special guest instructor David Moskowitz, Cybertracker Evaluator and author of Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and the forthcoming Wolves in the Land of Salmon.
Please note that there is also a morning session with David for those who have attended tracker training in the past. Future trainings will also take place in other northwestern state locations listed below.



Above: Chris Chisholm and student enjoying a bear track during one of the first tracking workshops he held in 1997, followed by a picture of suspected old wolf scat we found in northeast Washington State in 2008.

Weekend Workshops with 3 hours outdoors plus an hour indoors before and after for preparatory and follow-up information plus periodic extended day offerings. Cost is dues-based: $25 the first time you attend, $20 the second time you attend a wolf trackers training/workshop/practice session, $15 the third time, $10 the fourth, and $5 per additional time you attend. Contributions on any given day go first to pay the guest instructor(s) and workshop organizer(s), and remaining revenue to an independent Wolf Trackers endowment account to support future wolf advocacy work. Anyone with a Master Hunter Permit, or anyone with a JHPTS basic tracking certificate plus current SAR identification card, may attend at the $5 contribution level, while anyone with a Level I Cybertracker Certificate may attend at $20 the first time in attendance, Level II at $15, Level III at $10, and Level IV at $5. Enrolled tribal members may also attend for $5. Gain and maintain membership by attending 5 trainings per calendar year. Start now and become a 2011 Founding Member.

Space is Available. Email Your RSVP, Call to Reserve Space, Send A Registration Form with Check, or Use PayPal to Register for this workshop running 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2012:

Participants Legal Names:

Date Attending & Two Phone Numbers:

Extra Donations & Ordering Resource Books:

Below: Photos by Kim Chisholm of wolf tracks and running trail in Denali National Park, 2008.

Saturday, June 9th Training: Meet from 12:00-1:00 for lunch at the Sunset Cafe in advance of our Wolf Trackers orientation at 1:00 p.m. then caravaning to our Teanaway River tracking site where we will focus on seeing all aspects "sign" important to wolf tracking. Please note that there is also a morning session with David for those who have attended tracker training in the past.

Goal of Wolf Trackers

The goal of Wolf Trackers is to gather hunters and sportsmen, ranchers and farmers, wildlife scientists and conservationists, dog lovers and animal rights activists among others, bringing them together to increase knowledge about wolves in hopes of helping to balance wolf politics in western states.

During every workshop, we assess agreements for our group, share wolf tracking and educational resources, practice the basics of tracking animals, especially identifying what tracks can be confused with wolves and also trailing other canines along our river tracking sites, then prioritize tasks that need to be addressed over our first season.

Current Focus

• Develop wolf tracking skills;
• Educate ourselves with facts;
• Clarify goals and strategies;
• Train ourselves to develop conflict resolution skills for internal group function and for dealing with the public;
• Create structure as an ad-hoc Wolf College group;
• Develop membership through networking, online outreach, and other means;
• Develop endowment for operating costs through dues or other means;
• Develop standard operating procedures for future volunteer work;
• Volunteer for existing large carnivore monitoring projects to gain experience.

Volunteer Work

• Educate our consituencies, the public and politicians with facts about wolf ecology and mythology;
• Offer services when requested, such as acting as citizen volunteers for wolf monitoring programs, perhaps similar to programs already existing in the midwest.
• Consider requests from hunting guides, ecotourist and environmental organizations, government agencies, shepherds and cattlemen who would like assistance for on-the-ground wildlife assessments in their areas of concern.

Agreements

Animal lovers in the group bring compassion for those who fear wolves, and we understand that like wolves, sportsmen bring balance to wildlife, and have been some of the most successful conservationists in American history. In addition to wolves, sheep and cattle also need to be protected, especially on private lands.

Sportsmen in the group continue a rich tradition of conservation, supporting scientific wildlife management, and we consider wolves who prey on healthy large game populations as a good challenge rather than an impediment to hunting.

Ranchers and shepherds in the group bring pride for the hard work it takes to make modifications allowing for wolves on the edges of rural areas, and we also come willing to discuss the impact of public land grazing on our shared natural resources including wildlife.

Everyone who attends a Wolf Trackers Training can express his or her opinion, while also respecting the opinions of others. No matter your background - wildlife photographer, fisherman, hunting guide, cattleman, sheep producer, hiker, backpacker or animal rights activist - we welcome your input.

Where we will come together is on the facts, and we will learn to recognize the difference between those facts and our own opinions.

Directions for May 5:

Saturday, June 9th Training: Meet from 12:00-1:00 for lunch at the Sunset Cafe, 318 E. 1st St., Cle Elum WA in advance of our Wolf Trackers orientation at 1:00 p.m. before caravaning to our Puyallup River tracking site where we will focus on seeing all aspects "sign" important to wolf tracking. Please note that there is also a morning session with David for those who have attended tracker training in the past.

Please Bring (depending on season)

• Waterproof Footwear & Thermal Socks
• Warm Clothes including long undies
• Warm Hat / Sun Hat
• Sunglasses & Sunscreen
• Identification
• Day pack
• Full Water Bottle
• Power Snacks
• Camera
• Pencil and sharpener
• Field notes pad
• Small tape measure or ruler
• Small zip-lock baggies for collecting scat, etc.
• Gallon zip-lock bag for collecting bones, etc.
• Favorite tracking field guide(s)
• Any wolf resources/information you have to share

After you have registered, we will also email you a list of recommended items to include for future tracking leadership.

2012-13 Tentative Training Dates (please contact us if you would like to add additional trainings in your area)

Saturday, June 9, 2012 along the Teanaway River near Cle Elum, WA from 9-12 featuring David Moskowitz with prerequisite.
Saturday, June 9, 2012 along the Teanaway River near Cle Elum, WA from 1-4 PM featuring David Moskowitz.
Sunday, August 5, 2012 along the Sandy River near Portland, OR from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, August 26, 2012 along the Stilliguamish River near Arlington, WA from 1-4 PM.
Sat-Sun, Sept 22-23, 2012 along the Nooksack River outside of Bellingham, WA: Cybertracker Evaluations including a Trailing Evaluation with Brian McConnell with enrollment up to 4 people, and a Track & Sign Evaluation TBA.
Sunday, September 30, 2012 along the Methow River near Twisp, WA from 1-4 PM featuring Brian McConnell.
Saturday, November 17, 2012 along the Snake River near Caldwell, ID from 9:00-12:00.
Saturday, December 1, 2012 along the Powder River near La Grande, OR from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, December 22, 2012 along the Spokane River near Coeur d'Alene, ID from 9:00-12:00.
Sunday, January 6, 2013 along the Pend Orielle River near Colville, WA from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, February 16, 2013 along the Rogue River near Medford, OR from 9:00-12:00.
This spring's trainings comes at an opportune time for western Oregon as there is a sattellite-collared wolf (OR7 newly named "Journey") who has dispersed from the Imnaha Pack all the way through southwest Oregon and now into northern California. Click here for a map of Journey's journey:)
Sunday, February 24, 2013 along the Willamette River near Eugene, OR from 9:00-12:00.
Sunday, March 24, 2013 along the Teanaway River near Cle Elem, WA from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, March 30, 2013 along the Deschutes River near Bend, OR from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, June 8, 2013 along the Snake River near Lewiston, ID from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, June 9, 2013 along the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities, WA from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, August 4, 2013 along the Puyallup River near Orting, WA from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, August 11, 2013 along the Sandy River near Portland, WA from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, August 18, 2013 along the Skagit River near Mt. Vernon, WA from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, September 22, 2013 along the Methow River near Twisp, WA from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, November 23, 2013 along the Snake River near Caldwell, ID from 9:00-12:00.
Saturday, December 7, 2013 along the Powder River near La Grande, OR from 1-4 PM.
Sunday, December 22, 2013 along the Spokane River near Coeur d'Alene, ID from 1-4 PM.
Saturday, January 4, 2014 along the Pend Orielle River near Colville, WA from 1-4 PM.


• Click Here for our SATURDAY WORKSHOP SERIES
• Click Here for our SUNDAY AFTERNOON SUSTAINABLE HOME & GARDEN WORKSHOPS
• Click Here for our WOLF JOURNEY CLASSES
• Click Here for our WOLF CAMPUS STUDY DAYS
• Click Here for ACADEMIC YEAR ETHNO-ECOLOGY APPRENTICESHIPS

Costs & Refund Policy

Costs are listed with each description, and if you would like to ensure a space in the class(es) you like, then be sure to RSVP. Our refund policy is written just above where you sign your registration form. It reads that if we cannot accept your registration due to closed enrollment or other reason during the application process, you will receive a full refund on deposits. Otherwise, deposits are not refundable. If you need to cancel after making further payment, you may receive a credit for a future program, minus a 25% administration fee of your total payments, in case of emergency. Of course, you will receive a full refund if the program you sign up for is canceled and not rescheduled at a time you can attend. Participants may be asked to leave at any time for inappropriate behavior or unresolvable match to camp, and no refund (nor credit necessarily) will be given for the portion of the program which is missed.

Transportation & Packing List for Weekend Outings

Adults may buy one of our Frost Mora survival knives for $15 if you wish. Youth need to pass our Level III safety test before buying a knife. We also have journal materials, binoculars, field guides, instruments, extra sanitary supplies, water bottles, rain ponchos, compasses, blankets, and of course sunscreen available when necessary for use. Many products are also available in our camp store, with all revenues donated to the WOLF Foundation - Max Davis Scholarships.

Most important is a good night’s rest and a really good breakfast every day. In particular, if young people stay up late before any camp day, they will most certainly have difficulties the next day with us. Everyone should get a very tired camper back at the end of the camp day, but we often find that sleep deprivation or malnutrition are common causes of fatigue or behavioral issues before 3:30 in the afternoon.

Most important is a good night’s rest and a really good breakfast every day. If you have a favorite item you want to bring, even if we've said you don't need to, just let us know before the day starts or whenever you need them during camp. Otherwise, these are the items to pack:

___ Day pack that is comfortable and functional, with a full, small water bottle that will not leak. Also, bring two oversized plastic garbage bags to cover your gear in case of rain.
___ Lunch, using zip-locks, tupperware, and other reusable containers to reduce trash.
___ Sunscreen, sunhat, and hat for warmth, thermal socks, thin gloves, water shoes for those rocky shores, and shoes or boots that can get dirty. Please make sure you have broken in footwear in advance to avoid common blisters.
___ Although we always try to keep clothes and footwear as dry as possible, please allow the clothes to get dirty and become "naturalist" clothes for forest exploration. Take a trip to Value Village or the Salvation Army or another used clothing store to find such clothes if necessary. Also, remember that it's not the same temperature by the water or in the wooded areas, and we often crawl through thick vegetation, so long-sleeve pants and a long-sleeve shirt are required, although you should also bring a pair of shorts for days we stay in the lawn area. Earth-tone (natural) shades of clothing (e.g. browns and greens) are best and clothes which are "quiet" as they brush against things.

___ An entire change of clothes and shoes is a good idea days when it might rain, but please balance this with thought about what can easily be carried in a backpack and what might get lost, such as one of the shoes falling out of the van door unnoticed. Adults even have a hard time keeping track of items in vans! Also remember that cotton clothing is comfortable, but worthless if it gets wet. Rain gear is optional and loud, but it can be stored in our vans if you are unsure what to send along on any given day.
___ Fleece, wool, polypropylene, or nylon pullover. We provide emergency rain ponchos when necessary.
___ Work gloves, harvesting sack, journaling materials, favorite field guide.

Lost & Found Policy: You can pick up lost items from the Wolf Camp store up to 90 days after your camp is over. Otherwise, forgotten items will be picked up by charity. To help avoid loosing things, please put your name on every item you bring. For clothes, print your name on the tag. Thank you!


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